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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 



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FROM TIME '1 



A BOOK OF VEESE 






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a W. WEITZE.L 






FROM TIME TO TIME 



A BOOK OF VERSE 




S. W. WEITZEL 



NEW YORK 

ANSON D. F. RANDOLPH 

& COMPANY 

(incorporated) 
182 FIFTH AVENUE 



\l^^~-^^^^X, 






Copyright, 1892, bv 

Anson D. F. Randolph & Company, 

^ Incorporated). 



PRESS OF 

EDWARD O. JENKINS' SON. 

NEW YORK. 



CONTENTS. 



New Faiths 


5 


The Puritan 


6 


Browning 


7 


Matthew Arnold .... 


8 


Alchemy 


lO 


The Cross by the Wayside 


II 


The Angel's Tarrying-Place 


12 


That Quiet Life .... 


15 


A Cloud Rift 


i6 


Holy Innocents 


'7 


Easter Even 


i8 


Love's Opportunity .... 


19 


The Answer and the Call . 


21 


No Evil 


23 


Not by Sight 


25 


"And being Baptized, and Praying" 


27 


The Star at Dav/n .... 


28 


Daybreak 


30 


Joy in Heaven 


• 31 


Nature's Secret 


• 33 


Lost.— A Sorrow .... 


• 36 



CONTENTS. 



PAGE 

Above the Storm 



37 
39 

42 

44 

45 



" Who hath Ears to Hear " . 
judica me, domine 
Laws and Law .... 
"Work To-day in my Vineyard' 
Fritz von Uhde's Painting in the Na- 
tional Gallery at Berlin, (" Komm, 
Herr Jesu, sei unser Gast,") . . .47 
Blind Gentian answers Questions 
In a February Garden. California 
The Clock says it ... . 

Looking Back 

Given in Sleep 

From One who went away in haste 
Forever 



50 
53 
55 
56 
57 
62 

63 



NEW FAITHS. 

New ? — so, O Lord, Thy tender mercies 

are. 
So freshly blooms in heaven each evening's 

star ; 
New, — yet from everlasting Truth is true, 
Ever of old the wise Thy wisdom knew. 

Newly man's plummet sounds the gracious 

deeps. 
Clearer his eye may catch the glorious 

steeps, — 
'Tis the same mountain-top serene above. 
The same still ocean of eternal Love. 



THE PURITAN. 



THE PURITAN. 

Narrow, 'tis true, yet deep and high ; 
His bounded vision climbed the sky. 
Scant was the heaven above his head ? — 
That straitened space he keenly read. 

Not the far galaxy's expanse 
Caught reaching thought or roving glance 
On some great stars he fixed his gaze. 
By them he guided words and ways. 

The walls that closed his nature round 
Were mountains set in solid ground. 
Convictions rock-like, stern, assured. 
Not misty doubts his view obscured. 



STUDIES FOR TWO PORTRAITS. / 



STUDIES FOR TWO PORTRAITS. 
I. 

ROBERT BROWNING. 

A man of strength, whose noble word of 
cheer 
Rings true as cymbal of the fire-tried 

gold ; 
Who sings no song but makes the spirit 
bold; 
Unflinching optimist, and dumb to fear ! 
Seek not to know, he says, but struggle 
here 
In manful faith, and with the world grow 

old, 
And learn the truth that year to year 
hath told. 
And dying learn it all, gain vision clear. 



8 STUDIES FOR TWO PORTRAITS. 

Yet never comes misgiving faith to rout ? 
Aye, who so rich but knows some treas- 
ure lost ? 
So high but scaled the hight from deeps 
immense ? 
He gives no word to question or to doubt ; 
Against a weakling world he holds his 
trust, 
And takes the kingdom as by violence. 



II. 



MATTHEW ARNOLD. 

A man of truth whose careful soul hath 
wrought 
I'o keep the path through tangled, joy- 
less wild, 
Dim scene with cross lights vexed and 
snares beguiled ; 
Nor certitude, nor place, but honor fraught 



STUDIES FOR TWO PORTRAFfS. 9 

With honor's satisfaction. Bold in naught, 
Yet brave with lofty braveness ; as some 

child 
Obedient took his burden up, nor smiled 
Nor wept, but bore. No prayer he offered, 

sought 
No good for self lest self should baffle it. 
No title his to faith's sublime repose, 
I?ut toil, though purposeless, is good, he 
said. 
And blindfold toiled. Then meek, in si- 
lence fit. 
Stepped swiftly in where Truth fresh as- 
pect shows. 
" Life's old, death's new." What knowl- 
ediie waits him dead ? 



10 ALCHEMY. 



ALCHEMY. 

'TWAS but a murky drop,— the legend 
told,— 

A human tear. 
The elements wrought, Time's forces mani- 
fold ;— 

A gem is here. 
Flashing with hints of sunset rose and 
gold, 

And crystal clear. 



THE CROSS BY THE WAYSIDE. I I 



THE CROSS BY THE WAYSIDE. 

It falls along the dusty way 
Where pleasure's pilgrims day by day, 
And weary toilers grave and slow, 
And merry little children go, — 
The shadow of the cross ! 

We know not, but Thou, Lord, dost know 
How oft the burdens lighter grow. 
How sweet thoughts to the children come, 
And to the traveler thoughts of Home 
At sight of Thy dear cross. 

Nature, more true than we can be. 
Has daily some fresh gift for Thee ; 
In summer nestling harebells grow. 
In winter wreaths of fairest snow 
Adorn Thy blessed cross. 



12 THE ANGELS TARRYING-PLACE. 



THE ANGEL'S TARRYING-PLACE. 

An angel, it was v/hispered, had come 

down 
When morning blossomed o'er the sleeping 

town, 
With gifts from heaven man's irksome life 

to bless, — 
Joys to make richer, sorrows to redress, — 
If one the spirit's tarrying-place might 

guess. 

If one might find him, what a boon were 

here ! 
Wine of high courage flagging souls to 

cheer, 
Faith with bright promise waiting hearts 

to stay, 



THE angel's TARRYING-PLACE. I 



Love to bear burdens and beguile the way, 
Peace to crown all as evening crowns the 
day. 

I wandered forth to seek the blessed guest. 
Where would he fold his pinions bright, 

and rest ? 
Along the busy streets his face I sought, 
Amid the hurrying scenes where commerce 

wrought ; 
Not once the gleaming of his wangs I 

caught. 

Rather he'll dwell upon the hills, I said. 
Upon whose brow the sky's full grace is 

shed, 
In far sought cave, or by the river's flow, 
Where free winds wander and the spring 

flowers blow ; — 
But all the sweet, wild voices answered, 

No. 



14 THE ANGELS TARRYKNG-PLACE. 

Then last, in weariness, the day far spent, 
Beneath the evening star I homeward went. 
Vain all my patient search. My heart was 

sore, 
Long had I sought, and wide. What 

could I more? — 
I found the angel at my own closed door. 

Ah, heart, for blessedness look not afar ! 
Where duty's joys, where duty's labors 

are. 
In homely paths, in quiet nooks it hides, 
With lowly souls and home-keeping abides, 
And folds its white wings at our own fire- 
sides. 



THAT QUIET LIFE. 1 5 



THAT QUIET LIFE. 

Lord, oft I think what I would do, — 
How far and wide Thy glory show. 
How by my touch the world Ld move, 
How by my word the truth Ld prove, — 
And mourn my hand can grasp no more. 
And mourn my voice of little power. 
Then comes a thought — a greater thought, 
Of a still work that once was wrought, 
A noiseless step, a gentle touch, 
A fame that moved the world not much ; 
Only a few those hands could reach, 
Only a few those lips could teach ; — 
A sweet rebuke that life to me, 
That quiet life in Galilee. 



l6 A CLOUD RIFT. 



A CLOUD RIFT. 

I LOOKED upon my little grave, all green, 

Rounded with tender care, and blossom- 
ing 

With happy promises of earthly spring ; 
I whispered, " Here she sleeps." — Then 

on the scene 
A gleam of softer, brighter radiance fell, 

A messenger — an angel — came to me ; 

" Ah, look," he said. " Lift up thine 
eyes and see." 
I saw that busy place where spirits dwell, 
I saw the children run to do His will, 

Swift, happy service ! — sweet activity ! 
I saw — I saw her by the angel's side, 
I smiled upon her. I was satisfied. 

Ah me ! the gleam, the brighter light was 

gone. 
I saw again the little grave alone. 



HOLY INNOCENTS. 1 7 



HOLY INNOCENTS. 

Oh ! little hearts forever innocent, 

Warm with earth's love, from all earth's 
soiling clear. 
Bless God that — here your lovingness not 
spent — 

Ye now love there ! 

Oh ! little voices sweet with earthly tone 
Yet pure with heavenly, — faint to our 
dull ear, 
Bless God ye joined a moment in our song, 
And now praise there ! 

Oh ! little white wings, reverent and at 
rest. 
Folded before His face in happy fear. 
Bless God ye nestled once on mother's 
breast, 

And now pause there ! 



EASTER EVEN. 



EASTER EVEN. 

"And they returned and prepared spices and oint- 
ments, and rested thie seventli day according to the 
commandment." 

The Lord of Life lies dead ; 

High heaven is hung with gloom ; 
Yet to their simple, wifely task 

They turn them from His tomb. 

The spikenard and the myrrh 
Their tender hands prepare, — 

Tender with grief and deft with love — 
Then meekly close in prayer. 

Our dearest hope lies low ; 

From life fades out its best ; 
Love still may find sweet work to do, 

Faith still find Sabbath rest. 



LOVE S OPPORTUNITY. 1 9 



LOVE'S OPPORTUNITY. 

Early they came, yet they were come too 

late. 
The tomb was empty ; in the misty dawn 
Angels sat watching, but the Lord was 

gone. 
Beyond earth's clouded daybreak far was 

He, 
Beyond the need of their sad ministry ; 
Regretful stood the three, with doubtful 

breast, 
Their gifts un needed and in vain their 

quest. 

The spices — were they wasted ? Legend 

saith 
That, flung abroad on April's gentle breath, 



20 LOVES OPPORTUNITY. 

They course the earth, and evermore again 

In Spring's sweet odors they come back- 
to men. 

The tender thought ? Be sure He held it 
dear ; 

He came to them with words of highest 
cheer, 

And mighty joy expelled their hearts' brief 
fear. 

Yet happier that morning — happier yet — 
I count that other woman in her home 
Whose feet impatient all too soon had 

come. 
Who ventured chill disfavor at the feast, 
'Mid critics' murmur sought that lowliest 

Guest, 
Broke her rare vase, its fragrant wealth 

outpoured. 
And gave her gift aforehand to her Lord. 



THE ANSWER AND THE CALL. 21 



THE ANSWER AND THE CALL. 

" And it shall come to pass that before they call I 
will answer." 

Before love calls love answers. So Love 

says. 
For love divines. Have we not proved 

it so ? 
The hurt that these our neighbors cannot 

know 
Being indifferent, he our friend will guess, 
His glance made keen by Love's clear- 
sightedness. 
And all our wound he sees, and all our 

woe, 
Before we call and this our dolor show, 
And ask his tender touch to heal and 

bless. 
And more is true ; the hurt we proudly 

hide 
From careless gaze, to this beloved one— ^ 



22 THE ANSWER AND THE CALL. 

The secret hurt already we confide 

In that we love. Love ever cries and 
calls ; 
Love supplicates. And clamorous love 
alone 
Can hear love's ceaseless answer as it 
falls. 



NO EVIL. 23 



NO EVIL. 

" There shall no evil befall thee; neither shall any 
plague come near thy dwelling." 

No evil ? yet behold how tempest-tossed ! 
Storms beat unhindered on the good 
man's head, 
Heaven's lightnings shatter, or the early 
frost 
Falls on the flower he loved and leaves 
it dead. 

^Q evil ? — in a world where sorrow sits 
Vigilant, jealous ; where a sorrow flits 
Darkling beside each shape of happiness ? 
Oh, truth most literal ! deep with tender- 
ness ! 



24 NO EVIL. 

Oh, wondrous transmutation ! In His 
hand, 

His hand who gives, by His supreme com- 
mand, 

The clay is turned to gold, the il) to good. 
The lightning is His messenger ; His 
frost 
Chills not the root ; who knows God's 
fatherhood, 
Knows he rides safe, however tempest- 
tossed. 



NOT BY SIGHT. 2$ 



NOT BY SIGHT. 

Light of the darkness ! Love towards 
Whom we grope 
With ignorant steps, if haply we may 

find, — 
Through mists of doubt, miasmas of the 
mind, — 
Once found, a steadfast, sure, eternal hope ! 

No glory pierced my blindness, nay, nor 

grace, 
Charmed by no vision of Thy blessed face 
I came. Sight were but distant ken, but, lo, 
Thy touch hath reached me in the dark. I 

know. 



26 NOT BY SIGHT. 

Thy hand hath drawn. 'Tis not that I 
did go, 
I stand, — upon the rock. Men call this 

faith ? 
'Tis keener knowledge, verity that hath 
No blur of sense. It is the blind who 
know. 



" AND BEING BAPTIZED," ETC. 2/ 



"AND BEING BAPTIZED, AND 
PRAYING." 

Beneath the sky, upon the river's brim, 
The fitful multitudes awaiting Him, 

A world that questioned, and the full- 
charged air 
Vibrant with murmurings, Lo here ! — 
Lo there ! 
What recked it all ?— He looked, O God, 
to Thee. 
Still heaven is open ; to thine own to- 
day. 
Standing with Him, though all unworthily. 
The answer cometh swiftly when they 
pray ;— 
The dove of peace that lighteth gently 

down. 
The secret whisper. Thou, too, art my son. 



28 THE STAR AT DAWN. 



THE STAR AT DAWN. 

A STEALING glory, still, intent and sure, 
And one fair star left on the flushing 
sky; 
(It is a time of birth, an opening door, 
A moment full of possibility ; 
None knows how great a thing this day 
may see.) 

'Twas night that lit that fair star, dark- 
browed night, 
And still it burns, paled but before the 
sun. 
Pure through the darkness beamed its 
steadfast light. 
When sunshine conquers shade, when 

night is gone, 
Its tender radiance to the day is won. 



THE STAR AT DAWN. 29 



So thou, dear grace of patience, in the soul 
Dost keep brave vigil through the shad- 
owed hour ; 
Joy comes, — the morning! swift the mists 
unroll ; 
The full day dawns, thy faithful watch 

is o'er ; 
Not that thy light is less, but heaven's 
is more. 



30 " ENTERED INTO LIFE, E TC. 



" ENTERED INTO LIFE— AT 
DAYBREAK." 

The pale moon hangs upon the sky, 
A useless lamp, for day is nigh ; 
The stars go out with fitful flare, 
The morn's bold wing is on the air. 

Ah ! welcomer than softest rest 
Deep folded to the night's cool breast 
The stir of life, the laden hour, 
The waiting task, the bounding power. 

The dawn's gray quivers with the light. 
Farewell to thee, farewell, sweet night ! 
I loved thee well, thy dreams were fair,- 
Farewell to thee, — the Day is here ! 



JOY IN HEAVEN. 3^ 



JOY IN HEAVEN. 

The silly lamb deceived by foe's decoy 

Abroad to roam, 
With thankful bleat returns its rescuer's 

cry 

When night is come ; 
But greater is the tender shepherd's joy 
Who bears it home. 

The child who wanders from its father's 
side, 

And strays away, 
In helpless freedom o'er the meadows wide 

Alone to play 
Comes joyful back, that father for his 
guide, 

At fall of day. 



32 JOY IN HEAVEN. 

Freed now the little feet from weary smart, 

From danger's net, 
Content, and fain with childhood's happy 
art, 

Grief to forget ; 
Yet think you not the seeking father's 
heart 

Is happier yet ? 

Ah, joy ! — such joy as our dull childish 
sense 

Is slow to guess ; 
And think thee, Soul, thou dost that joy 
dispense. 

Or make it less. 
Thy little deed may swell that sea immense, 
Heaven's happiness ! 



nature's secret. 33 



NATURE'S SECRET. 

Brave deeds and noble man had done, 
Fair fame and high achievement won 

And earned a just renown ; 
" I'll build me monuments," he said, 
" Temples and tombs shall raise their head 

When I to dust am gone. 

Chance, change and death I here defy ; 
Though low this scheming head must lie, 

Art liveth long and sure. 
Time shall not quite my name efface. 
And wondering age to wondering age 

Shall see my work endure." 

Then Nature smiled a royal smile ; 

She saw his columns rise the while. 

She knew her secret well. 



34 NATURE S SECRET. 

And, " Know, O man," she said, "the day 
That finds your trophies old and gray 
Shall see me blooming still." 

The eternal hills are ever young, 

The arched halls where stars are hung — 

The ancient heavens — are new. 
Fresh laughs the sea, fresh gleams the sky, 
The trooping flowers come smiling by ; 

(Canst guess my secret's clue ?) 

I yield to chance, to change, to death ; 
Time touches me with fatal breath, 

I shrink not, nor def}''. 
The years write wrinkles on my face. 
New every morning wakes my grace. 

Fresh flows the stream's supply. 

The oak tree falls, the acorn springs. 
The fair flower dies, its seed hath wings 
And groweth up anon. 



nature's secret. 35 

Mountains may rend ; in hidden caves 
The patient drop the gravel laves 
And forms another stone. 

Who bows to chance new chance shall find ; 
Resist not death, for Life's behind 

And richer treasure bears. 
Life ever lives ; let night creep on, 
So swifter circles round the sun, 

And brincfs sweet mornine's airs. 



36 LOST. — A SORROW. 



LOST.— A SORROW. 

I HAD a grief — ah, me ! a tender thing, 
Quivering and helpless, pierced with smart 

and sting. 
Apart and sacred, safe from Joy's alarm, 
I held it in my bosom close and warm. 

Suns rose and stars ; above my drooping 

head 
Life's wide benignant courses kept their 

tread. 
My grief rose softly — 'twas a day of 

Spring,— 
And flew away all on a silver wing. 



ABOVE THE STORM. 3/ 



ABOVE THE STORM.* 

I SAW black sorrow coming, — from the sky, 

Upon the smiling land, the summer sea. 

Its shadow sweeping, as some bird sweeps 

by, 

Of huge, dun wing, of fearful augury, 
Of leaden flight above the homes of men, — 
Where will it stay its pinion dark, and 
when ? — 
So came that shadow from the summer 
sky. 

Soul, we will meet it bravely, then I said. 

This blackness moving swifter now along, 
Gathering with thunder's mutter overhead, 

Shall find us unsurprised, shall find us 
strong. 

* Suggested by the incident in Agassiz's youth, 
which so deeply impressed his mind. 



38 ABOVE THE STORM, 

Forward we'll journey up the mountain 

side, 
Breast its full fury, all its wrath outbide. 
Then on, and freelier breathe when it is 

sped. 

Up to the mountain gat my soul and I, — 
Mountain of God. And upward as we 
went. 
Bowed for the storm, with laggard-lifted 
eye, 
Sudden, behold, a fleckless firmament ! 
Here sit we on the hight 'neath sapphire 

clear. 
The fair sun sinks, the early stars appear. 
And loud beneath our feet the storm 
sweeps by. 



"WHO HATH EARS TO HEAR." 39 



"WHO HATH EARS TO HEAR." 

Silence. — I pierce the heavens with my 
cry, 

I wait, I Hsten. Who will make reply ? 

I call, I question. Comes nor voice nor 
sound. 

The mountains rise in silence calm, pro- 
found, 

The heaving sea uplifts its troubled breast 

And tells no tale, but moans a deep unrest ; 

The stars shine still and cold, unmoved, 
remote, 

Silent they thread their maze, and answer 
not. 

Is earth's ear heavy ? — or is heaven's un- 
bent ? 

Father ! Life-giver ! What is Thy intent 



40 " WHO HATH EARS TO HEAR." 

In this Thy gift ? What fruit so rich, so 

sweet, 
Lies hidden here, or what allotment meet 
For such a thing as I that Thou hast 

made ? — 
A soul, — all hope and possibility ? 
Breathless I listen. Still are earth and sea. 
And the far sky smiles silent overhead. 



Upon a day I saw one sit and sigh, 
I saw one sit amid divinest sound ; 
Fine harmonies and subtle wrapped him 

round 
Yet trembled not his lip, nor flashed his 

eye. 
Only his hungry gaze looked ever forth, 
His painful brow bent ever emptily ; 
He sat unmoved, nor faintest breath 

caught he. 
Nor thunder's roll, nor twittering linnet's 

mirth, 



"WHO HATH EARS TO HEAR." 4I 

For he was deaf. The noise of battle near, 
The roar of mortal war had filled his ear, 
And nevermore he heard. Ah, thought I 

then, 
Is it perhaps that thus it is with men ? 
Is it perhaps that thus it is with me? 
Not heaven is silent, but my ear is dull. 
Not heaven is silent ; rich perhaps and full 
The music swells ; it is as naught to me. 
Not false nor faint upon the quickened ear 
The voices fall of earth and sea and sky. 
But, ah ! the world's wild voices ever nigh 
Have dulled the heavenward sense. I do 

not hear. 



42 JUDICA ME, DOMINE. 



J U Die A ME, DOMINE. 

Be Thou my Judge, O God ! 
Thy justice, sweeter than man's tenderness. 
And keener sighted, counts the sin no 

less. 
Yet bears a healing none would dare to 

guess. 

Thou knowest altogether : deep within 
Thou seest the sorrow latent in the sin, 
The foul black spot I weakly wish were 
clean, 

O Thou, my Judge, my God ! 

Black is its blackness ; better far than I 
Thou knowest that foulness ; and in Thy 

pure eye 
No guilty thing may live. Still, still I cry. 
Be Thou my Judge, O God ! 



JUDICA ME, DOiMINE. 43 

Sin cannot live, but Thou, my Judge, my 

God, 
Alone among the judges, by Thy word. 
Canst slay the shi, and bring to true accord. 
My soul and Thine, great God ! 

My weak will and Thy strong; — O only 

Just ! 
Eternal Truth must stamp e'en worthless 

dust, 
Right must needs help make right ! Be 

Thou my trust, 

Be Thou my Judge, O God ! 



44 LAWS AND LAW. 



LAWS AND LAW. 

Mighty man's will, and sweeps a world- 
wide arc ; 
Great Nature's arm swings free in Titan 

curve ; 
Holding them both, with tense and tire- 
less nerve, 
Eternal Love moves onward to its mark. 



"WORK TO-DAY IN MY VINEYARD." 45 



''WORK TO-DAY IN MY 
VINEYARD." 

Where is Thy vineyard, Lord of love ? 
Thy fields stretch far beneath the sky, — 
Swept by all heavenly winds they lie. 

And heaven's light floods them from 
above. 

Where is Thy vineyard ? Here am I, 
Hither Thy grace hath led my way ; 
Lord, I will go, nor ask to stay ; 

I wait to hear Thy mandate high. 

I wait to hear the trumpet-blast ; 

Forth to some deed of noble name ! 

With nerve of steel, with heart of flame, 
I'll join the struggle's glorious haste. 



46 " WORK TO-DAY IN MY VINEYARD." 

Is this the trumpet ? — this sweet voice — 
Low, sweet, and still within my heart ? 
This love, of life itself a part ? 

This symphony of earth's best joys ? 

Is this Thy vineyard ? — this dear home 
Where day by day the old sun shines 
Upon the old hill's rounded lines. 

And stars I know gild night's blue dome ? 

Is Thy vineyard ? Is it mine 

To cull the fruit for those I love ? 
Among my chosen ones to move, 

And fill their cup with life's rich wine ? 

Is this Thy mandate ? Happy I ! 

To serve the dearest Thou hast given ! 

Oh, tender plan conceived in heaven ! 
How should my soul with joy comply ! 

Lord of the vineyard, this I ask — 
Nearest of all that Thou wilt stand, 
Dearest of tones be Thy command, 

And best reward the lowliest task. 



FRITZ VON UHDE S PAINTING. 47 



FRITZ VON UHDE'S PAINTING 
IN THE NATIONAL GALLERY 
AT BERLIN. 

" Komm, Herr Jesu, sei unser Gast." 

BriGiTT noonday sunshine floods the floor, 
Wide open stands the humble door, 
The simple meal is neatly spread, 
The child has bowed her golden head, 
And reverent grace has gravely said. 

And he is come ! the guest she asked : 
A traveler, weary, overtasked, 
A toiler, from noon's dust and glare, 
A king, of features strangely fair, 
A willing friend their feast to share. 

Ah, much is writ upon that face ! 
" I come because you give me place. 



48 FRITZ VON UHDE'S PAINTING. 

Gladly I take the waiting seat, 
Grateful the poor man's bread I eat. 
And what I bring you — who can mete ? ' 

And on the faces gathered round 
Sit love untold and joy profound. 
" O, friend divine," the elders say, 
" Afar we've seen thee on our way, 
Stay with us now, — forever stay ! " 

They worship, yet are not afraid, 
Father and mother — little maid — 
No terror in the childish eyes, 
No hint of awe or mysteries. 
But trusting love and sweet surprise. 

And as the homely feast goes on, 
By that blest presence shone upon. 
No pleasant jesting feels restraint, 
No blame finds word, no scandal's taint. 
No selfish gladness, weak complaint. 



FRITZ VON UHDE'S PAINTING. 49 

" Oh, come, Lord Jesus, be our guest." 
Such is the child-like heart's request, 
And, see, He lends a willing ear. 
How sweet the talk, how rich the cheer, 
Were this dear guest forever here ! 



50 BLIND GENTIAN. 



BLIND GENTIAN ANSWERS 
QUESTIONS. 

Not for my sins, dear poet, am I blind, 
But long ago — have you not heard the 
story ? — 
My grandsire trespassed, (here the record 
find) 
And robbed his offspring of our race's 
glory. 

They dwelt — my fathers — on this breezy 
hill. 
All in the brilliant late October weather; 
Fair stood their ranks, as you may see 
them still, 
Beneath jieaven's sapphire clustered 
close together. 



BLIND GENTIAN. 5 I 

And round the happy spot the fairies 
played, 
Coining in secret under nightfall's cover, 
Or hurrying home, by kindly act delayed. 
As morning softly crept the hillside 
over. 



Late, late one night — the east was grow- 
ing red — 
A tardy fay the last of all was numbered ; 
(All night he'd watched beside a baby's 
bed. 
And kept it happy while the mother 
slumbered.) 

Thirsty and tired the fairy hither flew. 
"Dear flower," he said, "I'll stop with 
you a minute, 
Give me, I pray, a sip of fresh-fall'n dew — 
How bright it looks with day's first sun- 
beam in it ! " 



52 BLIND GENTIAN. 

Here sinned my grandsire. Heaven's hap- 
piest law 
He quite forgot, and charity's pure pleas- 
ure. 
With careless heart another's need he saw, 
Nor oped his cup to share its crystal 
treasure. 

And since that day, the country people tell. 
One half the gentians grow with fast- 
closed chalice ; 
Not theirs to drink the dew they love so 
well, 
Not theirs to see the sun-god in his 
palace. 

Shadow of sin ! Yet sunshine filters 
through, 
And fills my cup, and lends an inner 
glory. 
And poets guess my secret heart is true ; — 
Some brighter morning may reverse the 
story ! 



IN A FEBRUARY GARDEN. 53 



IN A FEBRUARY GARDEN. 
CALIFORNIA. 

A BREEZE, a brightness, branches over- 
head. 
One near, (else, Sweet, what would the 

garden be ?) 
A troop of poppies, sunflower, peony. 
And motley phloxes to the sunshine 

spread ; 
Beneath her window wall-flower lifts its 
head, — 
The goodly wall-flower Bacon liked to 

see — 
Its bright fires burning soft and smokily. 
Its breath condensed richness, richly fed 
By earth, by sunshine, and the plen- 
teous showers. 



54 IN A FEBRUARY GARDEN. 

Here lilies fail not, nor the affluent rose, 
Here evening primrose counts the golden 
hours. 
Here sweetly, like the thought of one 
most dear, 
The breath of violets comes and gently 
goes 
And comes again, and savors all the air. 



THE CLOCK SAYS IT. 55 



THE CLOCK SAYS IT. 

Night ; and the clock ticks on, 
The world is still, and the stars look down. 
The clock ticks light, the heart beats 
low, 
Nor stir nor sound ; the wind's asleep ; 
The stars o'er the black sky silent creep 
And silent drop 'neath the black hill's 
brow. 
The clock and the heart beat on, beat on. 

There'll come a night when the stars look 

down, 
When the world's asleep, and the stars 

' creep on, 
Creep silent past, and drop 'neath the hill, 
And the clock will stop, and the heart be 
still. ' 



56 LOOKING BACK. 



LOOKING BACK. 

Hills of the past, lying in tender light, 
How shall I speak the thoughts that 

rise in me 
As backward turning nf)w your slopes 
I sec ? 
Soft lie your shadows, and the rugged 
hight 
That tore my feet is bathed in sunny 

rest. 
Your paths were rough as on I panting 
pressed, 
Oft, oft I stumbled, oft I lost the way ; 
Peaceful lies all in mcmor)''s chastened 

ray. 
Fair rise your peaks, fair stretch the upland 

meads, 
Silence and sacred calm upon your heads. 



GIVEN IN SLEEP. 57 



GIVEN IN SLEEP. 

They whispered low about the shadowed 

bed, 
" She soon must cross the fearful stream," 

they said. 
And I ? Swift ran my thoughts to that 

dread verge, 
My troubled thoughts — such thoughts as 

quickly merge 
In dreamful sleep. — I hear the river's 

surge, 

I stand upon its bank, and stand alone. 
Chill creeps the white mist, and a far wind's 

moan 
Sweeps through the cypress trees. Rut 

what to me 
The creeping mist, the wind, or that dull 

sea 
That sobs and surges? For insistently 



58 GIVEN IN SLEEP. 

A deathlier chill, a deadlier fear oppress, — 
A palsying weight of sin, of faithlessness. 
" How can I come," I said, " before His 

face 
Whose love I slighted, half forgot His 

grace, 
Doubted and feared, nor fitly cared to 

praise ? 

Horror of darkness? Terror deeper far 
The shuddering soul beyond the glance of 

star 
Or sun, or lamp of heaven-lit faith can 

know. 
Sad unfamiliar stream? Chill winds that 

blow ? 
It is my sins that freeze my soul with woe. 

It is my doubts tumultuous rage and 

swell, — 
Ungenerous fears. How can I cross and 

dwell — 



GIVEN IN SLEEP. 59 

Cross that wild torrent of mistake and 

wrong — 
It deepens, widens, grows more fierce, more 

strong, — 
And dwell the happy, pardoned souls 

among ? " 

Then still uprose upon the further brim. 

Yet near, a form. Who shall those features 
limn, 

Or mar with word or breath that gracious 
sight ? 

What tongue can speak that sweet, com- 
pelling might ? 

What speech but silence pure be worship 
right ? 

He stood, — the Christ ! God's love made 

manifest ! 
And I had doubted Him! within my 

breast 



6o GIVEN IN SLEEP. 

Let creep unfaith and fears. Swift rose 

my prayer, 
My worldless prayer, (He read the soul 

laid bare 
And caught the thought or ere it cleft the 

air,)— 



" But, Lord, I cannot come. My sins di- 
vide. 

How can I forth upon this rushing tide 

Of my own terrors, doubts and sinful 
fear ? " 

He spake no word. But in the dimness 
drear 

He opened forth His arms. — Lo, heaven 
was here ! 

Upon the sea of terror, doubt and sin 
Instant I flung myself, and plunged 
within. 



GIVEN IN SLEEP. 6l 

The waves forgotten. " Lord," my spirit 

cried, 
" No power can keep me from Thee, naught 

divide. 
Through floods of doubt and sin I'll reach 

Thy side." 

The vision passed. Was it not gracious 
sent ? 

And when once more my slow steps earth- 
ward bent 

Its sweetness lingered. Can I know doubt 
more. 

Distrust or fear? Upon the dark stream's 
shore 

He stands, He waits, He blesses evermore. 



62 FROM ONE WHO WENT AWAY. 



FROM ONE WHO WENT AWAY 
IN HASTE. 

Sweet friends, I could not speak before 1 
went, 
We could not wait— the messenger and I, 
Will you guess all ? — with love's clear vis- 
ion bent 
On that poor past, with eyes that search 
the sky ? 
Some things I would have done, some 
words have said ; 
Swift had my feet on those last errands 
run. 
Once more I would have said, " I love 
you,"— plead 
Once more forgiveness for the good un- 
done. 



FROM ONE WHO WENT AWAY. 63 

And do I hear a whisper, " Ah, forgive, 
Forgive us any tenderness forgot"? 

Hush, dearest pleader, where to-day 1 hve 
Love's depth drowns all ; the things 
that were are not. 

Of all the wondrous tale anon we'll talk, 

And on some sunny hight together walk. 



64 FOREVER. 



FOREVER. 

Like the lark through deeps of sky, 
Will the soul bound on, and fly 
Earth-lost, toward God forever? 

In fullness which thirsts for more. 
Research which is richest lore, 
In rest which is still endeavor? 

Oh, love, more wide, more deep, 
As ages their watches keep ! 
Oh, power that lures us ever ! 

Faith growing strong through sight, 
Hope shining still more bright ! 
Is this Thy heaven, great Giver ? 



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